Grant is to fund job training
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A $5.9 million grant is slated for the Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board to create a workforce to fill clean energy jobs in the state.
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis made the announcement Wednesday.
The program is focused upon training more than 4,700 people for energy efficient jobs in commercial and public settings.
The grant was part of $190 million awarded across the country through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“This grant will help close to 5,000 Washington state workers get the skills and training they need to succeed in the growing clean-energy industry,” said Murray. “Washington state is a national leader in the clean-energy sector and this grant will help ensure that our workforce remains strong and able to fill the jobs of the 21st century economy.”
The workforce training and education board will determine the areas the money will be distributed across the state after the money is received.
“The grant will help Washington state workers gain access to good jobs, while supporting the sort of statewide energy efficiency strategies that play a crucial role in building the green economy of the 21st century,” said Solis. “This investment continues to lay the groundwork to provide good jobs for everyone and puts our country on the path for clean energy future that works for all Americans.”
Murray worked to secure the funds for states across the nation.
“Going green means that we are going to get serious about worker training and making real strides in going green is going to create a sustainable 21st century job market,” Murray said. “From retrofitting our homes and offices, installing solar panels, green building; many of the jobs of tomorrow require making a commitment to train new workers today.”
She said Washington state embraces new technology and produces ground breaking results in the industry. The state is situated to be a leader in the field of clean energy, she added.
“We’ve got to build the workforce before we can build anything else,” Murray said.
She said the purpose is to put people back to work.
Murray explained the grant assists organizations to recruit military veterans to the clean energy job market.
“They are disciplined team players,” she said. “They’ve all proven they can work under pressure. They often find the skills they have are not appreciated by employers.”
The senator said the transition between military and citizen life is difficult and the growing number of unemployed veterans continues to grow.
“This grant money is going to help those … veterans get a job back home that is meaningful,” Murray said.
Solis said $25 million of the total grant money awarded nationwide is reserved for communities affected by the downturn of the auto industry. The grants range in size from $2.5 million to $6 million across the nation. Across the country, more than 50,000 training slots will be created.
The grants focus on various populations across the country including at-risk youth, ex-offenders, low-income adults, disabled people, Native Americans, education and housing.
Industries to use the trained workers will include bio-fuels, wind energy, various electricity transmissions, sustainable manufacturing businesses, clean coal production, energy efficient building construction and retrofitting projects.